Gardner Minshew On Colts’ Radar
Beyond Jimmy Garoppolo, a buyer’s market took shape at quarterback in free agency this year. But a few teams have made their moves for bridge-level veterans. Baker Mayfield, Jacoby Brissett, Taylor Heinicke and Sam Darnold reached agreements. The Colts, however, have not made a move.
Indianapolis released Matt Ryan, being set to become the rare team to enter a season with a seventh Week 1 starting quarterback in seven years, and saw Carolina trade up to the No. 1 overall spot. The Colts will continue to be connected to rookie options at No. 4, but they should be expected to add a veteran as well. Gardner Minshew has surfaced on Indy’s radar for the latter role, Zak Keefer of The Athletic tweets.
A former Jaguars starter who ended up taking future Colt Nick Foles‘ job in 2019, Minshew spent the past two seasons backing up Jalen Hurts in Philadelphia. New Colts HC Shane Steichen residing in Philly during that span makes this a rather clear connection for the AFC South franchise.
Hurts suffered short-term injuries in each of his two full seasons as the Eagles’ starter, missing a start with an ankle issue in 2021 and suffering a shoulder malady last season. Minshew ended up making four starts in Philly from 2021-22 under Steichen. He fared better in 2021, completing 68.3% of his passes and sporting a solid 60.8 QBR number, but he also started against a bad Jets team and a host of Cowboys backups. Last season, he faced Cowboys starters and a top-10 Saints defense and completed just 57.9% of his throws and threw three touchdown passes and three INTs.
For his career, however, the former sixth-round pick carries an eye-catching 44-to-15 TD-INT ratio. Most of those numbers came for overmatched Jaguars teams as well. Minshew is 8-16 as a starter, but he showed the capabilities of at least being a capable QB1 in Jacksonville. He will be available at a low rate, given what Mayfield and the rest of the above-referenced lot of passers signed for this week.
The Colts still have Foles and Sam Ehlinger under contract, but the franchise should be expected to turn the page (again) at the position this offseason. The team will be connected to a trade-up maneuver in Round 1 or sticking at 4 to select a first-round QB for the first time since Andrew Luck 11 years ago. But Indy will almost definitely have a veteran option in place by that point as well. Minshew’s past with Steichen will make him a strong candidate to fill that role.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/15/23
Today’s minor transactions:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Re-signed: RB Trayveon Williams
Denver Broncos
- Signed: CB Tremon Smith
Green Bay Packers
- Re-signed: TE Tyler Davis
- Signed: LS Matt Orzech
Indianapolis Colts
- Re-signed: CB Tony Brown
Las Vegas Raiders
- Re-signed: S Roderic Teamer
Los Angeles Chargers
- Re-signed: DL Morgan Fox
Los Angeles Rams
- Re-signed: OL Coleman Shelton
Miami Dolphins
- Re-signed: T Kendall Lamm
- Signed: TE Eric Saubert
- Claimed off waivers (from Broncos): WR Freddie Swain
Minnesota Vikings
- Re-signed: TE Ben Ellefson
Washington Commanders
- Re-signed: DE Efe Obada
Smith got a two-year deal from Denver that can max out at $5.5MM, per Mike Klis of 9News in Denver (via Twitter). Smith got a $1.4MM signing bonus to join the Broncos, per Troy Renck of Denver7 (via Twitter). After finishing last in kicker return average in 2022, the Broncos should get a bump from Smith, who averaged 23.9 yards on his 40 kickoff returns for Houston over the past two years.
Colts Re-Sign WR Ashton Dulin, Sign DT Taven Bryan
The Colts have finalized contracts with players on both sides of the ball. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports (via Twitter) that the Colts are re-signing wide receiver Ashton Dulin. Meanwhile, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports (via Twitter) that the Colts are signing defensive tackle Taven Bryan.
Dulin is inking a two-year deal worth $9.2MM. Doug Kyed clarifies (on Twitter) that Dulin will earn $7.2MM and can make another $2MM via incentives and base escalators. The wideout is due $3.5MM in guaranteed money.
Dulin, a 2019 UDFA out of Division II Malone, has transformed into a key special teams player for the Colts. He earned a second-team All-Pro nod in 2021 after he finished with 17 tackles and three fumble recoveries (one of which was returned for a TD), and he’s even seen some time returning kickoffs. Dulin has also managed to contribute on offense, hauling in 28 catches and three touchdowns over the past two seasons.
Bryan will sign a one-year deal worth $4.5MM. The former first-round pick collected 5.5 sacks in four seasons for the Jaguars. After having his fifth-year option declined, he signed with the Browns for the 2022 campaign. The 27-year-old proceeded to start all 16 games for Cleveland, collecting 26 tackles and three sacks.
Colts To Sign DE Samson Ebukam
Samson Ebukam has found a new home. The free agent defensive end is signing with the Colts, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter).
Ebukam is inking a three-year deal with the Colts. The contract can be worth up to $27MM, including more than $11MM due in the first year.
The former fourth-round pick played out his rookie contract with the Rams before inking a two-year deal with the 49ers prior to the 2021 campaign. After starting 11 of his 17 appearances during his first year in San Francisco, Ebukam started all 15 of his appearances in 2022.
He ultimately finished this past season with 36 tackles and career-highs in sacks (five) and QB hits (13). Pro Football Focus only ranked him 72nd among 119 qualifying edge defenders, although they did grade him as an above-average option at the position in 2021. At the very least, he should help fortify a Colts pass rush that’s also brought in linebacker E.J. Speed.
As for the 49ers, the team will need to find a new rusher to play opposite Nick Bosa. With Javon Hargrave now in the picture, Arik Armstead could end up seeing more time on the edge in 2023.
Colts To Release QB Matt Ryan
Shortly after making an unanticipated move, the Colts will follow through with a long-expected item on their offseason to-do list. They are cutting Matt Ryan, Zach Klein of WSB reports (on Twitter).
[RELATED: Colts To Trade Stephon Gilmore To Cowboys]
The Ryan release will create $17.2MM in Colts cap savings. Between this and the Stephon Gilmore trade, Indianapolis has freed up more than $27MM in cap space Tuesday afternoon. While GM Chris Ballard said last year the plan was for Ryan to start multiple seasons, the passer’s 2022 performance leaves his career at a crossroads.
That 2022 performance had more lowlights than highlights, with Ryan finding himself in and out of the starting lineup. When all was said and done, the Colts went 4-7-1 in Ryan’s 12 starts, with the 37-year-old tossing a career-low 14 touchdowns vs. 13 interceptions. The Colts only gave up a third-round pick to acquire the former MVP from the Falcons, but the team was still expecting more from the position.
After getting underwhelming results from veterans like Ryan and Carson Wentz in recent years, it wouldn’t be a shock if the Colts look towards the future. Veteran Nick Foles and former sixth rounder Sam Ehlinger are still on the roster, but it’s unlikely that either QB will be given a long look in 2023.
As for Ryan, the QB will have a difficult time finding a starting gig as a free agent. There were some signs of life in 2022; Ryan’s 67% completion percentage was still on-par with his prime. However, his interception percentage and QBR were among the worst of his career, and with no upside, potential suitors would surely just be eyeing Ryan as a backup and/or mentor. There’s a chance Ryan could also decide to hang up his cleats after playing 15 years in the NFL.
It’s uncertain what’s next for the quarterback, but he’s still entitled to a chunk of money. Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter), Ryan’s agent negotiated a new contract as part of his trade to Indianapolis. Thanks to that move, Ryan is entitled to $12MM in guaranteed money for the 2023 campaign, and he’ll receive that money regardless of whether he continues playing or not.
Colts To Trade Stephon Gilmore To Cowboys
The Cowboys plan to pick up the second year of Stephon Gilmore‘s Colts-constructed contract. Indianapolis has agreed on a trade that will send the former Defensive Player of the Year to Dallas, Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (on Twitter).
In exchange, the Colts will receive a fifth-round Cowboys compensatory pick in this year’s draft. Gilmore is going into his age-33 season, but he played well in 2022. He will pair with Trevon Diggs in Dallas, which lost multiple cornerback regulars last season.
While Gilmore went through two rocky years following his dominant 2019 campaign, he bounced back with the Colts. Despite Indy’s chaotic season, Gilmore again proved to be a reliable defender. Pro Football Focus ranked the 6-foot-1 defender ninth among corners, and he allowed a 56.2% completion rate and 74.0 passer rating as the closest defender — both his best marks since that 2019 DPOY performance.
This will give the Cowboys a veteran boundary complement to Diggs, who lacked reliable presences opposite the risk-taking All-Pro to close last season. Both Anthony Brown and Jourdan Lewis suffered season-ending injuries, limiting the Cowboys’ upper-echelon defense in coverage. The team still has Lewis under contract, though Brown is a free agent, and plans to re-sign safety Donovan Wilson. Adding Gilmore will give the Cowboys a veteran-laden secondary without a top-tier contract on the books.
Gilmore angled for a new Patriots contract in 2021, doing so after the Pats gave him a one-year pay bump in 2020. But after the quadriceps injury that ended his ’20 campaign early, New England stood down. Gilmore landed on the Pats’ reserve/PUP list to start that season and never played another game with New England, which traded the former first-round pick to Carolina for a late-round selection. Gilmore underwent meniscus surgery during the 2022 offseason, Rapoport adds (on Twitter), and he looked closer to his peak form with the Colts.
Few modern corners have enjoyed seasons on the level of Gilmore’s 2019. The then-30-year-old outside corner rolled to Defensive Player of the Year acclaim during a season in which he intercepted six passes and limited quarterbacks to a collective 44.1 passer rating while in coverage. Gilmore enhanced his reputation considerably in New England, earning two first-team All-Pro nods and helping the team to its sixth Super Bowl title. The Cowboys will call on him to help them negotiate this decades-long hurdle.
After losing yet another divisional-round game, the Cowboys went to work creating cap space by restructuring the deals of Dak Prescott and Zack Martin. The Prescott restructure will provide the veteran QB with more leverage down the road, but it also equipped Jerry Jones’ team with more than $30MM in additional cap space.
One season remains on Gilmore’s two-year, $20MM deal. The Cowboys will take on the former Bills draftee’s $7.96MM salary, and they will count on the 12th-year veteran displaying the form he showed as a Colt last year. The Colts will take on $2MM in dead money by making this trade. They have moved on from multiple starting corners in recent years, trading Rock Ya-Sin to the Raiders in 2022 and now unloading the player they acquired to replace him. Slot staple Kenny Moore remains as Indianapolis’ top cornerback, but the team will need replacements on the outside.
Colts, K Matt Gay Agree To Deal
The Colts made a kicker change ahead of Week 2 last year. They will make a signing to move toward stability in 2023. Indianapolis will add Matt Gay, Peter Schrager of NFL.com tweets.
Gay is signing a four-year, $22.5MM deal, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. Considering the Colts’ kicker path since Adam Vinatieri‘s final season, paying up for a proven specialist makes sense. Gay, who spent the past three years with the Rams, is a Pro Bowl kicker who has made at least 93% of his field goal tries in each of the past two seasons. Gay is the fifth-most accurate kicker in NFL history.
Gay’s contract tops any accord ever given to a kicker in free agency, though Justin Tucker‘s latest Ravens re-up still leads the field overall. But Gay’s $5.62MM-per-year average checks in as the position’s second-highest figure. The soon-to-be 29-year-old specialist eclipses Jason Myers‘ recent Seahawks extension for second place behind Tucker.
Over the past two seasons, Gay has made 60 of 64 field goal attempts. Last season, Gay went 7 of 9 from beyond 50 yards. Although Los Angeles does not present one of the tougher kicker environments, Gay going from an outdoor venue to Lucas Oil Stadium should not exactly provide a higher hurdle for him. He will be expected to stop the Colts’ kicker carousel, one Vinatieri’s 2019 struggles and retirement started.
Vinatieri’s injury-induced retirement ended a 13-plus-season run in Indianapolis for the league’s all-time scoring leader. The Colts brought in Chase McLaughlin to finish out the season but added Rodrigo Blankenship as a UDFA the following year. A Blankenship 2021 injury, however, threw off Indy’s blueprint again. Michael Badgley kicked in the final 12 Colts games in 2021, and McLaughlin returned to Indy’s active roster — after illegal procedure penalties and a missed field goal led to a tie in Houston — in September 2022.
After beginning his career on a Buccaneers kicking merry-go-round, Gay will be tasked with finishing this weird kicker period for the Colts.
Colts To Re-Sign LB E.J. Speed
A bit after losing Bobby Okereke to the Giants, the Colts will spend a bit of cash to keep another linebacker. They are bringing back E.J. Speed on a two-year deal, per NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo (on Twitter).
Speed, who saw increased playing time during Shaquille Leonard‘s injury-plagued season, will stay in Indianapolis for $9MM. Okereke signed with the Giants on a four-year, $40MM deal that included $22MM guaranteed. Considering Leonard’s contract, paying Okereke on that level was likely never a strong Colts consideration.
Playing alongside Okereke and Zaire Franklin, the former fifth-round pick recorded 63 tackles (seven for loss) despite playing on just 28% of the Colts’ defensive snaps. Speed, 27, started five games and forced two fumbles during his contract year. The Colts have Franklin locked up for two more years, having re-signed him in March 2022.
While the Colts have let Okereke and Anthony Walker walk over the past three offseasons, they have some Leonard support returning. Leonard, who played just three games during a season bracketed by surgeries, has four seasons remaining on his landmark extension.
Colts Shopping C Ryan Kelly
The Colts could be looking to move on from their Pro Bowl offensive lineman. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Colts are shopping center Ryan Kelly. The organization could also consider cutting the veteran, but they’ll exhaust the trade market before making a move.
Kelly inked a sizable four-year, $50MM extension with the Colts prior to the 2020 season. He earned Pro Bowl nods in both 2020 and 2021, and in 2022, he started all of his team’s games for the first time since 2019.
However, thing’s aren’t as rosy as they may appear. The Colts offensive line struggled mightily in 2022, with Pro Football Focus grading Kelly as a middle-of-the-road center (16th among 36 qualifying players). Despite the Pro Bowl nod, the site ranked Kelly 32nd among 39 centers during the 2021 campaign, and they haven’t given the player a top-10 grade since 2019.
With impending cap hits of $12.4MM and $14.6MM in 2023 and 2024, respectively, the Colts could decide to move on from the veteran as they continue to pivot towards the future. Considering his track record, it wouldn’t take long for a team to scoop up Kelly in free agency, and there’s a chance the organization could find a suitor on the trade market.
Kelly isn’t the only Colts player who’s on the trade block. Per Fowler, tight end Mo Alie-Cox is also “potentially available.” The 29-year-old has averaged 24.7 receptions for 300 yards and three touchdowns per season over the past three years.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/12/23
Today’s minor moves in the NFL, one day before the legal tampering period begins:
Indianapolis Colts
- Re-signed: DE Tyquan Lewis
Washington Commanders
- Re-signed: LB Khaleke Hudson
Lewis, 28, has played all five seasons of his career with the Colts, and his tenure there will continue in 2023. The former second-rounder is signing a one-year deal worth $2.1MM (Twitter link via Joel A. Erickson of the Indianapolis Star). Lewis had logged a career-high snap share of 62% in 2022 before suffering a season-ending injury in October, and could be in line for a significant workload again this coming season.
Hudson was set to become an RFA, but has also inked a one-year deal, per a team announcement. The 25-year-old joined Washington as a fifth-round pick in 2020, and has been a mainstay on special teams in all three of his NFL seasons to date. His role in the third phase is likely to continue in 2023, as he looks to play his way into more regular defensive duties.